Lawmaker will propose execution by firing squadLITTLE ROCK (AP) — A lawmaker whose 12-year-old daughter was murdered by a man now on death row said Thursday that she will work to make the firing squad a legal execution method in Arkansas because court challenges have stalled efforts to resume the death penalty using lethal injections. Republican Rep. Rebecca Petty of Rogers said she was spurred to introduce a proposal aimed at resuming executions after a state Senate committee on Wednesday...

Bond hearingsThe following individuals appeared during felony bond hearings Wednesday at the Pope County Detention Center. Their names, ages, anticipated charges and bond amounts are listed. If charged, they will appear March 30 in Pope County Circuit Court. • Joshua Jackson, 19, battery of a police officer, fleeing, possession of a controlled substance and resisting arrest — $20,000. Around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, an officer saw Jackson walking through yards i...

Senate committee backs prison overhaul billLITTLE ROCK (AP) — A key component of Gov. Asa Hutchinson's plan to overhaul the state prison system and reduce an inmate backlog received bipartisan support from a Senate committee Wednesday. The Judiciary Committee advanced to the full Senate a bill sponsored by Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson of Benton, Asa Hutchinson's nephew. Jeremy Hutchinson said the bill will free up space in state prisons and provide better physical and mental treatment for in...

Panel OKs eliminating death sentence as penaltyLITTLE ROCK (AP) — A proposal to abolish the death penalty in Arkansas advanced in the Legislature on Wednesday for what will likely be a mostly symbolic vote, nearly a decade after the state last executed an inmate. The Senate Judiciary Committee, by a voice vote, endorsed a proposal to eliminate the death penalty as a sentencing option for capital murder and treason. The bill heads to the majority-Republican Senate, where it faces dim prospe...

Professor, 2 others dead in what police call murder-suicideMAUMELLE (AP) — A University of Arkansas at Little Rock professor, his wife and his sister have been found dead in their burning home in Maumelle in what police say appears to be a murder-suicide. The bodies were found by firefighters about 10 p.m. Friday. Police say the body of one woman was found near the front door, another woman was found in a bedroom and the man was found in the living room. Police told reporters that each victim was shot...

Authorities seek nephew of slain Sweet Home womanSWEET HOME (AP) — The Pulaski County Sheriff's Office says detectives are searching for the nephew of a Sweet Home woman who was found dead in her home. The department said in a news release that Houston Henry, 55, is wanted for capital murder the death of Joyce Taylor, 77. Taylor was found dead in her home Feb. 13 by deputies who were asked to check on her welfare. The department says only that Taylor did not die of natural causes and Lt. Chr...

Justices hear arguments on lethal injection lawLITTLE ROCK (AP) — A case that examines whether a 2013 law gives the state's correction department too much authority in setting lethal-injection protocol is now before the Arkansas Supreme Court. The court on Thursday heard oral arguments from an assistant state attorney general and a lawyer representing nine death-row inmates. Pulaski County Judge Wendell Griffen last year put lethal injections on hold in the state. He said the law stipulati...

Suspect who confessed to girl's murder has been clearedGOSNELL (AP) — Prosecutors say 18-year-old Christopher Sowell is no longer a suspect in the murder of 11-year-old Jessica Williams. The Jonesboro Sun reported that DNA evidence presented to prosecutors indicates the 18-year-old was not involved in the girl's murder. The murder charge against Sowell was dropped on Feb. 11. Williams was found dead in a waterway near Big Lake in rural Mississippi County in 2013. The newspaper reports that Sowell ...

3 suspects in custody, face moonshine and meth chargesMURFREESBORO (AP) — Authorities say three people who allegedly made moonshine whiskey and methamphetamine are in Pike County jail pending their first court appearance. The Texarkana Gazette reported three suspects were taken into custody on Feb. 11 after a moonshine still was found under their kitchen sink. Chief Deputy Sheriff David Shelby stopped the suspect's vehicle for expired tags when he noticed that the suspects seemed nervous. A searc...

Lawsuit that claimed excessive force by police dismissedLITTLE ROCK (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit that alleging four policemen, including former Little Rock police officer Josh Hastings, used excessive force while conducting an arrest. Cedric McSwain's claimed that Hastings, Sherwood police officer Kevin Webb, and Arkansas State Police Troopers Hunter Glover and Brad Lann beat him when he was walking home from a birthday party. He also said the officers conspired to arrest him even...

Hutchinson outlines $33M plan to ease prison overcrowdingLITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Wednesday proposed tapping more than $33 million in state reserve funds to ease a backlog of state inmates at county jails by opening new prison space, hiring additional parole officers and expanding alternative sentencing programs. The Republican governor said the plan would open 790 new beds, including 288 at a county jail Arkansas would contract with in neighboring Texas, for the more than ...

Man charged in Conway officer's death died of pneumoniaCONWAY (AP) — Authorities say pneumonia resulting from mixed drug intoxication killed a man charged in the 2013 traffic death of a Conway police officer. The Log Cabin Democrat reported Barry Strickland's death certificate says he had a mix of morphine, amphetamine, muscle relaxer, and anti-anxiety medications in his system when he was found dead at his parents' house in November. He was out on bond awaiting a December jury trial. Strickland w...

Melbourne teacher arrested after marijuana found in purseMELBOURNE (AP) — A north Arkansas teacher has been arrested after authorities say a drug dog found marijuana in her purse inside her classroom. Investigators say the Melbourne High School teacher knew the canine would be used to inspect vehicles in the school's parking lot. The Izard County Sheriff says it appears she removed about 27 bags of the drug from her son's car and stuffed them into her bag to protect him from the search. Deputies sea...

Proposal to end life without parole for juveniles tabledLITTLE ROCK (AP) — A proposal to end life without parole sentences for juveniles stalled before a legislative panel on Tuesday after facing heavy opposition from the state's prosecutors. The House Judiciary Committee tabled the proposal to amend Arkansas' sentencing laws to eliminate life without parole sentences for offenders who were younger than 18 when they committed their crimes. The legislation would apply retroactively to dozens of pris...

State prison worker accused of having sex with inmateCALICO ROCK (AP) — A contract employee for a state prison is accused of having sex with an inmate in the infirmary of the northern Arkansas facility. According to a press release by the Izard County sheriff, Megan E. Pereira, 27, of Mountain Home worked in the infirmary at the Calico Rock prison. She's charged with eight counts of felony third-degree sexual assault. Pereira was arrested last week by the Arkansas State Police and has been relea...

Bond hearings (Feb. 13)The following individuals appeared during felony bond hearings Friday at the Pope County Detention Center. Their names, ages, anticipated charges and bond amounts are listed. If charged, they will appear March 30 in Circuit Court. • James Followill, 30, two counts of delivery of a controlled substance — $7,500. Followill sold less than 4 grams of methamphetamine to an informant with the Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force on two occasions in March ...

Man found in west Little Rock with multiple injuries diesLITTLE ROCK (AP) — Little Rock police say a man found with multiple stab wounds has died at a local hospital. Lt. Sidney Allen says the man died after being found about 2:20 a.m. Friday by officers investigating reports of a person on the ground. Allen says the man has not been identified and that detectives were still searching for a suspect in the case.

Little Rock police investigating man's shooting deathLITTLE ROCK (AP) — Little Rock police have arrested a suspect in the shooting death of a man whose body was found in a parking lot. Lt. Sidney Allen said Friday that officers arrested the suspect after the man contacted police and said he had purchased a motorcycle similar to one seen in news reports about the shooting death of 56-year-old Frank Steinsiek. Police have said Steinsiek was planning to meet with someone about a motorcycle he was t...

Talkington trial moved to April 8-10The murder trial of a Pope County man accused of killing his cousin in Knoxville that was initially scheduled to begin Thursday was postponed until April 8-10, Johnson County District Attorney Bruce Wilson said. Nathaniel Talkington, 26, was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the Nov. 1 death of his cousin, Caleb, 23. He was taken into custody Nov. 5 in Morrilton when officers were notified he had an arrest warrant during a tr...

Bond hearings (Feb. 11)The following individuals appeared during felony bond hearings Wednesday at the Pope County Detention Center. Their names, ages, anticipated charges and bond amounts are listed. If charged, they will appear March 9 in Circuit Court. • William Perrin, 34, furnishing, possessing or using prohibited articles — $5,000. On Monday, a Russellville Police Department (RPD) officer responded to a disturbance and noted Johnson smelled like alcohol, accor...